The Bad Place9News | New AI scam targeting pet owners by 9News
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A Sydney student, 18‑year‑old Sarah Swain, posted on Facebook and put up flyers after her 16‑year‑old black cat, Cinda, escaped in Kingsford on May 5. She soon received an email from someone claiming to have found the cat and sent AI‑generated photos showing a cat that looked similar, but the sender demanded $200 and an Apple gift card, threatening to “sell” the cat if she didn’t pay. Suspicious of the oddly phrased messages and the cat’s appearance, Sarah and her boyfriend realized it was a scam, and when she attempted to meet the alleged finder at a supermarket with her mother, no one appeared. The police said they could do nothing, so Sarah reported the incident to Scamwatch and is warning other pet owners that such extortion attempts are a crime and that they should verify any claims before giving money.